Leona’s: Fusion Sushi with a Pedigree

(Gerry Furth-Sides) Friends in the food business often want to team up on a restaurant. In this case it was bound to be successful when the friends were La Loggia owner, Frank Leon and long-time friend, Sushi Master Chef Shigenori Fujimoto. The third “sweat-equity” partner is actor-Evan Ross (son of Diana).

Leon has been so involved with the “Boulevard” community at his popular La Loggia for 30 years, he was dubbed, “Mayor of Studio City.” From the beginning the welcome mat was out. Additionally, because of his own hard work, Leon has had the mentorship of his former legendary employers and customers all along the way.

“When we were getting La Loggia ready to open,” Frank recalls, “we would arrive in the morning to find business cards from CBS and NBC under the door! Affable, savvy Frank also became friends with some of the biggest hitters in town. So not surprisingly it became known as the most popular valley places to meet and to broker deals.

Once the additional building was added to his playing field, Leon has been able to keep up with the area’s changing needs in addition to maintaining La Loggia all these years. The additional site (including the middle driveway footage) has been home to the Village and then Ceremony, which merged Mexican and European cuisines.

Frank’s own immigrant success story from literally the bottom rung also started with him being in the right place at the right time. And he made the most of it at an astonishingly young age.

Leon, who came to the States from Costa Rica at the age of 17, started at the top with a “bottom” position at the legendary REX in the Oviatt Building in downtown LA and steadily worked his way up. His only “other” restaurant stint was at the equally famous Jimmy’s in Century City, where he served a celerity clientele and learned the first week who “the rat pack” was since they were regulars.

Chef Shige Fujimoto is from the Gifu Prefecture in Japan. He trained in traditional washoku along with sushi, then started his career in Japan. When he arrived in the United States, he worked at Matsuhisa Restaurant, the former Shige in Santa Monica, Irori in Marina del Rey and Asanebo on the famously competitive Studio City Ventura “Boulevard.”

“If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere,” goes the saying. Chef Shige proved even more when earned a Michelin Star for his work at Asanebo. This spring Leona’s earned a spot in the Michelin Guide for Leona’s.

Every inch of the nearly 5000-square restaurant complex behind the bold, rustic door is inviting and lovingly planned out. The huge hanging plants alone are breathtaking. Owner Frank laughed, “we are in here every day to tend to them and talk to them.”

Below is by row by row starting at the top: the outdoor middle patio (that once was a driveway), the “speakeasy” on the west end that formerly The Village.  

With three restaurant spaces to work with, there is an opportunity to see what works and what can be changed. The Peruvian and Japanese fusion menu was planned to include a variety of small plates, fresh sushi, and original cocktails.

Below is an OMAKESE SUSHI SAMPLER (MP) with a side of horseradish and ginger. The server is friendly, intelligent Nelly.

A sample of the “small bites” favorite CROQUETTES , blue crab croquettes, mizuna, tartar sauce ($14 for 3).

Enticing fusion specialties on the Leona’s menu feature our favorites: Hokkaido Scallop, yuzu buta belly, (braised pork belly), pork chop oxtail and corn tempura:

Leona’s Sushi House, 11814 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604. (818) 985-9222. Follow on instagram and Facebook and for details please see the website: www.leonasla.com.

For our LocalFoodEater.com stories on exquisite sushi, please see:

For the story of Q: //localfoodeater.com/q-sushi-brings-japanese-endomae-style-america/

The story of Mori sushi: //localfoodeater.com/the-story-of-legendary-mori-sushi/

For coverage on Ricardo Zarate’s Japanese-Peruvian restaurant, please see: //localfoodeater.com/ethnic-fusions-best-new-friend-causita/